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Once your surveys and sources are configured, use Research Desk to launch fieldwork, monitor performance, and close out when quotas are met.

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Soft launch

A soft launch validates your setup with a small amount of traffic before full fielding. Recommended approach:
  1. Launch at roughly 10% of your total sample target
  2. For high IR projects, set the source Calculation Type to Survey Starts to avoid overshooting quotas
  3. Once the soft-launch cap is reached, fielding pauses until you increase targets
  4. Review quota fills, data quality, and unexpected over-quotas, screenouts, or abandons
  5. Request data cleaning on soft-launch completes if needed
  6. Fix programming, redirects, quotas, or CPI mismatches before expanding to full launch
See Best Practices for detailed soft-launch and CPI guidance.

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Monitoring live surveys

While a survey is live, monitor: If entry volume is lower than expected, compensation (CPI) may be too low for the LOI and incidence combination. Use the red alert icon to view recommended CPI and save adjusted pricing in real time. Pricing changes apply immediately to live sources.

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What slows traffic

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Pausing and updating in field

You can update certain survey and source settings while fieldwork is active. Pause or set surveys to non-live status when you need to fix programming, redirects, or quota logic without accepting new respondents.

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Closing fieldwork

When quotas are met or fieldwork ends:
  1. Set survey status to Complete
  2. Confirm no sources are still sending live traffic
  3. Export traffic reports if needed for internal review
  4. Begin reconciliation during the reconciliation window

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Sample exclusions during fieldwork

For tracker studies, confirm sample exclusions are configured before launch. For follow-up waves targeting prior respondents, see Recontact Respondents.

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Need help during fieldwork?

Use live chat or the support form, or submit a case at researchdesk.com/support.